OPINION

The first part should be to stop the so called "robin hood" theft.

Property taxes in Texas are out of control just like income taxes in CA are out of control. The difference being is if one is out of work and has no income he pays no tax, the other is he may lose his house because of high property taxes.

Coy, I think your logic is flawed in believing they won't keep raising property taxes. Its a self fulfilling prophecy knowing they can extort money from you either way.

I will never buy property in Texas because I will never own it because of the property tax. It needs to be removed.

So, where do you own property, bd? Where is this place you can own property and not pay a tax on it? Inquiring minds want to know...

After reading Coy Prather's letter, I'd just like to say once again that the presentation of my opinion on taxation was significantly skewed by the editing of my original letter to the editor. It led people to believe that I was a "liberal Democrat Californian" who somehow escaped that "hell hole," etc. (none of which could be further from the truth -- stereotypes, stereotypes, stereotypes; don't forget, the most Republican county in America is in Southern California). I never said I believe income taxes will "lower taxes." My point, when I wrote my original letter and now, is that property taxes are inherently inequitable, but many people do not realize that.

One person responded to my initial letter (the entire first paragraph of which had been edited out), that the tax rate was 9.3% in Texas, and isn't that nice and low? It would be, if it were 9.3% for everyone. The point is that it is not! I would love to be paying only 9.3%! One respondent to my original letter wrote that he is paying over 2000% more in Texas property taxes than in federal income taxes. This is inequitable! Can anyone suggest otherwise with a straight face?

In the first paragraph of the letter I actually wrote, I noted that property is the only investment on which the same unrealized, subjective "capital gains" are taxed year after year after, without regard to ability to pay. We would scream to high heaven if other capital gains were viewed and taxed in this way. Why should a newly unemployed person who long ago paid off his home mortgage, for example, be forced to sell it just to pay property taxes? This is absurd!

Property tax has ceased to be a local fundraising mechanism, although that is what it was originally designed to be. It is the ONLY tax-raising mechanism for individuals in Texas. The Robin Hood plan alone demonstrates conclusively that property taxes are not local.

The problem with Coy Prather's suggestion is that people who are not interested in selling their homes would advocate for low appraisals, and people who are in the market to sell would advocate for high appraisals. You're much less likely to get a valid appraisal under his suggested system. It just makes no sense, and merely perpetuates in inequitable system. Making it a political football wouldn't help either. That's how you have property carried on the tax rolls for $8 million, for which the City of Dallas pays $40 million (ostensibly the market value). The whole tax system, including the property tax, needs to be revamped.

My one and only point, in my original letter and now, is to advocate for an equitable tax system. Is anyone opposed to an equitable taxation system? Please identify yourselves, if so!

Elect the chief appraiser! We elect county clerks, we should elect county appraisers too. The ones we have now are corrupt, incompetent and arrogant.

I highly doubt that state and local sales tax would decrease if an income tax were implemented. They would both be high and only one would be considered deductible on a 1040 return. Most seniors wouldn't even get that benefit since they don't file an federal return. Is it fair that a 93 year-old has to pay $400 which has doubled in recent years, mostly DISD, to keep her home? How about the 80 year-old who pinches pennies for food and medicine now having to shell out $200 for a house in need of major repairs? She can't even get her house fixed.

The current system is why DISD taxes are out of whack! The appraisals go up and they believe it's their opportunity to rob and spend, and spend they know well. To me, that's where the corruption sits. It's like a slush fund when they can't balance the books so no one goes to prison. Or maybe it's to tear down and build to their hearts content, with no reguard to costs involved. We paid school taxes before our kids were in school, and we've paid full taxes for 20 years since they've graduated from DISD. We're looking for relief. There was only one family in this household, unlike many that have 4-6 families under one roof with many generations of children in school. The set up now is, when their child refuses to pass in class, the taxpayers get to pick up the bill for summer school and/or for them to repeat the same grade next year because "they can't pay for it." Trust me, some of these kids repeat 3 and 4 years before graduation, or drop out, or graduate uneducated on our dime. Like Carolyn said, it's not fair to some to lose their homes just to pay taxes for this nonsense.

We could lower taxes starting there if parents had to foot the bill to put their child back through the system to repeat a class without good cause. I'd forgive the bill if the child had been sick, not pregnant. There could be a couple of other situations, but never an excuse for skipping and lack of desire to get with the program. We're just too tolerant of some things that shouldn't be tolerated.

Did you know that the average property tax appeal refund is $600? Did you know that by making "One" phone call to your local assessor's office could result in an instant tax reduction? Did you know that the majority of Property Tax Agents or Tax Lawyers take all or most of any property tax refund you would get? I've just released a "Ground Breaking" new video on, "How To Lower Your Property Taxes". I've written a "How To" hold you by the hand "Property Tax Lowering System". Since I'm a former property tax assessor I reveal some amazing inside secrets. Secrets your local assessment authorities would rather you not find out, but you have the right to "Legally" obtain. You're not going to want to miss this video. Cut and paste this link into your browser and be prepared to be shocked!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yc5wmsFnTA